Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-02-14
LITTLE MAC AND HIS GENERALS.
Gen. MeCleiian's Opinion of His Lieuten-
ants as Expressed In His Book.

ants as Expressed In His Book.
Phil kearney received a brigade; but
though he stood high as remarkably
daring man and good cavalry captain in
the Mexican war, had not sufficient con-
fidencc in his brains to give him one of
the first divisions | have since some
times thought that | would have done
well had | given him command Of the
cavalry
Sumner was in California when | as
sumed command; he returned not long
before we took the field and at once re-
ceived division. He was an old and
tried officer, perfectly honest, as brave a
man as could be, conscientious and labori-
Gus. In many respects he was model
soldier lie was man for whom had a
very high regard, and for his memory
have the greatest respect. He was very
valuable man. and his soldierly example
was of the highest value in new army.
A nation is fortunate that possesses many
such soldiers as was Edwin Y, Sumner.
Franklin was one of the best officers ]
had; very powerful. He was a man not
only of excellent Judgment, but of re
narkably high order of intellectual
ability He w&s often badly treated, and
seldom received the credit he deserved.
His moral character was of the highest,
and he was in all respects an admirable
corps commander; more than that, he
would have commanded an army well.
The only reason why did not send him
TO relieve Sherman instead Of Buell. was
that | could not spare such a man from
the Army of the Potomac
FitZ John Porter was on duty with Gen.
Patterson as adiutant general when | as
sumed command. As soon as possible
had him made brigadier general. and gave
him the command vacated by w T. Shcr.
man. Take him for all in all, he was
probably the best general officer | had
under me. He had excellent ability,
soand Judgment and all the instincts o!
a soldier He was perfectly familiar with
all the details of his duty, an excellent
organizer and administrative officer, and
one of the most conscientious aud lab0ri
Gus men | ever knew / never found il
necessary TO do more than give him gen
cral instructions. for it was certain tha;
all details would be cared for and nothing
neglected | always knew that an order
given to him would be fully carried our
were it morally and physically possible
He was one of the coolest and most i'm
perturbable men in danger ever knew
like all his race. | shall have occasion
10 revert TO him hereafter, and will nov
only add that he was treated with thu
Grossest injustice, chiefly, fear. becaus,
of his devotion 10 me-
To SedgwiCk | gave a brigade No
knowing him well did not at first appre
ciate his high qualities, but soon discov
cred them and gave him the first vacan
diyisiOn-!hat originally commanded BY
Stone. He was one Of the best and mos
modest soldiers we had. Possessing ex
cellent ability and Judgment, the highes
bravery, great skill in handling troops
wonderful powers in iDstructing and dis
ciplining men as well as in gaining thei
love, respect and confidence, he was with
al so modest and unobtrusive that IL was
necessary to be thrown closely in coltac
with him to appreciate him. He wa
thoroughly uuselfish, honest and true a
steel. His conduct during the battle o
| charlottesville in storminG the works ol
| Marie's Heights and afterward holdiny
! his own against tremendous odds, wa
remarkable and most brilliant feat O
| arms.
Hancock received brigade early in tn
| formation of the Army of the Potomac
| He was man of the most chivalrou
| courage and of a superb presence, especi
| ally in action; he had wonderful,
| quick and correct eye for ground and TO
| handling troops; his Judgment was good
| and it would be difficult to find a bette
| corps commander.
John Reynolds was commandant of tn
corps of cadets when the war broke out
He gained high reputation in the Mexi
can war rs an officer of light artillery, ant
was among the first whom caused TO b
appointed brigadier general. He was
| splendid soldier and performed admirabl
every duty assigned TO him. Constantl
| improving. he was, when killed at Gettys
burg with Meade and Sedgwick, the bes
officer then with the Army of the Potomac
| He was remarkably brave and intelligent
an honest, true gentleman.
Meade was also one of my early ar
| pointments as brigadier general. II
was. an excellent officer; cool, brave an
! intelligent; he always did his duty admir-
ably and was an honest man. As CON
mander of an army he vas far superior t
either Hooker or Burnside-Gen. Georg
b. McClcllan's Book.